Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-20
KILL RAIN-SMITH FIGHT.

LtNDON, Lee. l3.-1H luteTudtloIdl COIL
test between Jake Killrain, of Baltimore,
and Jem Smith, of England, for the
diamond belt and the championship of the
world took place on the island of St.
Pierre, in the river Seine, France, today,
in the presence of about 100 persons.
There was no police interference. G. W.
Atkinson, the referee, performed
his duty with satisfaction to all
concerned. Jem Smith was sec
onded by Jack Baldrick and Jack
Harper and was attended by Jem Howes
and Dick Roberts. Jack kilrain was at
tended by Charlie Mitchell and Ned Don
nelly, and was attended by Charley Crow
ell. Messrs. Fleming and Harding acted
as time-keepers and umpires The fight
was remarkable for the persistent wrest-
Smith was knocked nearly silly by ter
rifle smack on the ear. Though Smith had
the worst of the falls he fought splendidly
under great difficulties, and was as fresh
as Kilrain when darkness stopped the fight
at 4:45. One hundred and six rounds were
fought, lasting two and a half hours.
The party left the Paris-RoueD train at
the village OF Borsnieres, whence they
tramped across muddy fields and marshy
lands TO the river, where there was steam
launch lying along side the bank. The
party included Lord De Clifford. the Mar
quis of Queensbury, Sir Hugh Drum
mond, Hon. Mr. Sandys and Captain Lee
barber The launch took all hands on
board and steamed away to the
scene selected for the fight.
There some great difficulty was
experience in getting a good site for the
ring on account of the deep mud. Event
ually an excellent ring was pitched. XII
rain fought at 1Sf pounds, and Smith at
$50 pounds, a heavier weight than he has
fought at heretofore. Smith castor was
thrown into the ring and WAS Immediately
followed by kilrain's beaver. They COM
menced at 2:l0 p. IN.
1t was lively and energetic battle for
the first three round, quick give and
take, with close sparring. In the fourth
round kilrain got i'll, giving Smith Il
smash on the ear. which appeared to stun
him. In the wrestling which formed
feature of a number of succeeding rounds
Smith was no match for the American.
He had the worst of every fall Kilrain
each time coming down heavily on his
PROSTATE foe. The fight was declared a
draw.
The men reached Paris at a late hour
tonight after tedious journey
NEW YORK, Dee. 19.-Richard X. Fox
was in excellent spirits this evening when
a reporter asked him what he thought OF
the cable reports of the Smith-Kilrain
fight. He said he was. satisfied kilrain
haze the best OF the fight. Mr. Fox said
thai his representative at the fight pre-
scented Kilrain with check for 900
when the latter entered the ring today. as
a special inducement 10 him. If kilraIn
won the stakes and belt which go to him
were worth together about $1,000
The betting was on Smith at the start,
yeering to kilrain later. There was much
wrestling instead of fighting. Smith had
the best at the start and forced the fight
ing. kilrain had the advantage in the
wrestling. In the eighteenth round Kill
rain hit Smith on the left ear. causing a
swelling the size of an egg and knocking
hi..l down. kiirain's right eye was closed
The fight veered until the fifteenth
round, when kilrain led until the nine
teenth, knocking down Smith three times
and being knocked ont himself
once. Smiths ear swelling burst, to his
great relief. After the nineteenth round
Smiths strength returned and he held his
own. He had the best of the last six
rounds, both men fighting as quickly and
as strongly as at the start. The referee
ordered that the fight be resumed to-
morrow. but later Smith and Kilrain eX-
pressed mutual respect for each other,
swore eternal friendship, agreed to CON
slider the fight draw. and pledged each
other 10 fight Sullivan. The general
opinion is that the fight was the gamest
heavy weight contest Of the present genera
ton. Smith was first to appear on the scene
The men shook hands, and the principals
and their seconds retired to stheir corners.
Baldock. who was Smiths principal
second. chose the corner which would give
his man the benefit of fighting with mis-
back to the sun, at this time shining bril-
liantly. The start was at 2I-2. Smith eros
sing over to his opponent offered to lay
him 900 to 600 on himself, a similar bet
having been made previously laid by a
well known Dublin sporting man, the
taker being Charley, Mitchell. The
layers of the odds quickly had the best of
it, rs seven to two was Immediately after
ward laid to minor sums on the Britisher.
Smith appeared in white knee breeches
and emerald green socks and looked per-
feet Hercules Kilrain wore black tights
ana brown socks, and although in point of
muscular development he compared un-
favora6ly with Smith, the American had
decidedly the advantage in height and
from head to heel looked the thorough
business like fighter.
Both men fought with remarkable en-
ergy and determination, and their seconds
encouraged them with ,he usual brisk,
bOlSterOuS badinage peculiar to the ring.
hilraln special tactics were specially eyi-
dent. They consisted OF closing with his
man as soon as possible. wrestling and
falling upon him. Some rounds only
lasted seven seconds. while others were
prolonged TO as many as twenty-thTee
seconds.
Smith worked with splendid pluck, took
punishment without WiRching. although
knocked clean down At the eighteenth
round his slogging blows began to tell
heavily on Kirain's right eye which was
being rapidly bunged up, much in the
fashion which Savers treated Heenan in
the famous fight long ago. As a Set-off
kllrain got well home his left on Smiths
ear, which soon swelled up to abnormal size
had to be lanced by seconds. kilrains
backheelng at the finish OF each round
told heavily on Smith, but certainly up
to the fOrtieth round when the men had
been fighting fifty minues, there was very
little to choose between them. Before
the fight began, odds three 10 four We're
freely offered on the Englishman. but all
betting stopped as the fight narrowed into
question OF endurance Cutting
Il long story short. up to the nintieth
round kilrain held the advantage and
had knocked Smith down three times
while Smith had only once succeeded in
knocking kilrain down. One hundred
rounds had been fought in one hour and
forty minutes. Both men, however, kept
strong on their legs. The light was now
fast fading and the cold bitter. Smiths
seconds repeatedly urged that the time
keepers could not see their watches. nor
the referee see If a foul were committed
Smith came up marvelouSly in
the last six rounds. but Kill
rain was always game, cool, and
collected. In the one hundred and sixth
round both We're fighting As quiet as at
the start, when Mr.. Atkinson ordered an
OF the contest until the next
DAY. amid loud cheers. the spectators being
d sighted with pluck shown by both men.
just A. lighting ceased. snow began 10 fall
In Sullvans opinion today'S hight Was